Duplex dyeing-machine.



PATENTED AUG. 1', 1905.

J. A. WILLARD.

DUPLEX DYEING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1904. RENEWED DBO. 29,1904.

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No. 796,382. PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905.

J. A. WILLARD. 0

DUPLEX DYEING MACHINE.

APPLIOA'IIOH FILED FEB. 24, 1904. RENEWED DBO. 29, 1904.

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PATENTED Amer 1, 1905;

J. A. WILLARD. DUPLEX DYEING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1904. RENEWED DEG. 29,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. l/VILLARD, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO VACUUM DYEING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHATTANOOGA, TEN- NESSEE, A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

DUPLEX DYElNG-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed February 24:, 1904:. Renewed D m r 29, 1904. Serial No- 2 18 7- To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. i/VILLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Duplex Dyeing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to duplex dyeing-machines adapted for the dyeing of raw stock, wool, and similar materials in bulk; and the object thereof is to provide a duplex dyeingmachine whereby the dyeing of one mass of material can be had while another mass which has been dyed is removed from the machine and a new mass to be treated substituted, thereby increasing the output of the dyed material in a given length of time than if the machine was so constructed as to permit of operating upon but one mass of material.

The machine is particularly adapted for dyeing, washing, and fixing dyestuffs upon the material being operated on while said material is submerged at all times, consequently preventing the material coming in contact with air until the color has been set or made fast or permanent, or, in other words, preyentingoxidation while the material is being treated.

The invention further aims to provide a duplex dyeing-machine which shall be simple in its construction, strong, durable, efficient in its operation, readily and easily set up, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure l is a top plan view of the machine with the hoisting mechanism omitted, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of a portion of one of the receiving means for the dye liquor and the material to be treated.

The machinecomprises What may be termed a primary means A to receive the material to be treated, a secondary means B to receive the material to be treated, and a pipe system C for alternately circulating the dye liquor or washing medium through the primary receiving means A and the secondary receiving means B.

The various parts of the construction which go to make up the primary receiving means A are the same as those that go to make up the secondary receiving means 13, and therefore the description of the means A applies to the description of the means B, the same reference characters being applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, each of the receiving means consists of an open vat or receptacle 1, adapted to be mounted upon a suitable support and reinforced exteriorly at its lower end by an annular angle-shaped brace member 2, which is secured to the vat or receptacle 1 in any desired manner. The preferred contour of the vat or receptacle 1 is cylindrical, although any other desired sh ape may be employed. In the vat or receptacle 1, a suitable distance from the lower end thereof, is arranged the bottom 3, of inverted-cup-shaped formation, with the depending portion 3 of said bottom secured in position by a plurality of holdfast devices 3". The bottom 3 is reinforced by means of the brace-irons 3, secured to the lower face thereof.

Arranged within the vat or receptacle 1 is' an annular casing .4, tapering downwardly slightly, so that the diameter of said casing will decrease from the top to the bottom thereof. The casing iis of much less diameter than the vat or receptacle 1, so as to form a chamber or space A for the purpose hereinafter referred to, and said casingt is secured to the bottom 3 through the medium of the angle member 5, secured to the inner face of the casing 4 at the bottom thereof by holdfast devices 5 and to the upper face of the bottom 3 through the medium of the holdfast devices 5". The casing 4 is reinforced at its top by an annular band 5 secured thereto by the holdfast devices 5 I Arranged within the casing 4 is a removable perforated bottom plate 6, which is adapted to support the material to be treated, and upon said plate 6 the material is compressed in the manner as hereinafter set forth. To permit of the removal of the plate '6, the same is provided with a plurality of eyes or other equivalent devices 6, to which is adapted to be connected a hoisting device. The

plate 6 has depending from its lower face a pair of supporting members 6 and 6, which are adapted to rest upon the member 5.

su crtin member 6 is of smaller diameter than the member 6, and these members 6 and 6 are annular in contour and angular in cross-section. The diameter of the plate 6 with respect to the casing i is suchthat when said plate 6 is arranged within the casing 4a clearance-space will be had between the edge of the plate G and the inner face of the easing 1. r

The machine is provided with means for compressing the material to be treated, said means being employed in one of the receiving means A and B when the material is to be, treated, or, in other words, the compression means is alternately employed in the receiving means A and B. For example, when the material has been treated in the means A the compression means is removed from said means A and transported to the means B for compressing a non-treated mass of material.

After this non-treated mass of material has been dyed and washed the compression means is shifted from the means B to the means A and is adapted for use for compressing a mass of non-treated material in the means A. The compression means consists of a perforated plate 7, reinforced by truss-braces 7 secured to the upper face of said plate through the medium of the holdfast devices 7 The trussbraces 7 a are suitably disposed throughout the upper face of the plate 7 and are of such length that they extend at a point-removed from the center of the upper face of the plate 7 to a point removed from the edge of the plate 7. Mounted upon the upper face of the plate 7, registering with the edge thereof and projecting inwardly, is a reinforcing angle-shaped member 7, which is secured to the truss-braces 7 by the holdfast devices 7 b and to the plate 7 by the holdfast devices 7 The member 7 is also adapted to form a seat for the means which retains the plate 7 in position after the mate- I rial to be treated has been compressed. The

plate 7 is provided with a plurality of chains or other equivalent devices 7 to permit of attaching thereto a suitable hoisting device, so that said plate can be removed from within the casing 4. The hoisting device for the plate 7 is the same as that employed for the plate 6, and, as shown, consists of a chain hoist 8, connected to a trolley 9, operating upon a track 10. By the employment of the hoisting device 8, trolley 9, and track 10 the plate 7, as well as the plate 6 and as well as the treated material upon the plate 6, can be transported to any point desired.

' Each of the receiving means A and B is provided with a retaining means for the removable perforated compression-plate 7, and said retaining means consists of a plurality of verticallyextending rods 11, (only one shown,) arranged within the space 4, extending above the top of the vat or receptacle 1, and secured to the inner face of the vat or receptacle 1 by means of the holdfast devices 11. The construction of the rods 11 is such that they will project away a portion of their length from the inner face of the vat or receptacle 1. Each of the rods 11 is formed with a stop-flange 11 and with an elongated slot 11. Loosely mounted upon each of the rods 11 is a sleeve 11, provided with an inverted-L-shaped dog 11 having an elongated slot 11 The dog 11 is adapted to be shifted into and out of the casing 1, and when shifted out of thecasing 1 the flange 11 arrests its downward movement upon the rod 11. The slot 11 in each of the rods 11 is adapted to receive a wedge 11 for retaining the dog 11 in its set position when extending in the casing 1. The dogs 11 are adapted to seat themselves upon the member 7 when the plate 7 is in the casing 4:, so as to retain said plate in position. It will be evident that when the material is placed upon the plate 6 and plate 7 placed upon the material and the dogs 11 shifted upon the member 7 and the wedges 11 driven home such operation will compress the material within the casing 1 and retain the plate in position. When it is desired to remove the plate 7, all that is necessary is to drive the wedges 11 out of the openings 11 and shift the dogs 11 by grasping the same in the slots 11. Arranged within the space or chamber 4 is a steam heating-pipe 12 for the dye liquor.

The pipe system C is not only adapted to be employed for circulating the dye liquor alternately through the receiving means A and B, but is also adapted for circulating the dye liquor or washing medium in alternate directions through each of the receiving means A and B. The pipe system C consists of a pair of primary supply-pipes 13 14:, the pipe 13 at one end extending through the-bottom 3 of the receiving means A and communicating therewith for supplying dye liquor thereto. The pipe 14 at one end extends through the bottom 3 of the receiving means B and communicates therewith for supplying dye liquor thereto. The other end of the pipe 13 is connected to a T-coupling 15, having a threeway valve 16,. and the other end of the pipe 14 is connected to a T-coupling 17, having a three-wayvalve 18.

The reference character 19 denotes a suction-pipe which communicates at one end with the receiving means A, and the reference character 20 denotes a suction-pipe which communicates at one end with the receiving means B. The other end of the suction-pipe 19 is connected to a T-coupling 21, havinga threeway valve 22, and said T-coupling 21 com municates with a pump 23 through the medium of a pipe member 24, T-coupling 25, and an inlet-pipe 26. The other end of the suction-pipe 20 is connected to a T-coupling 27, having a three-way valve 28, and said T coupling 27 communicates with the pump 23 through the medium of a pipe member 29, the

T-coupling 25, and the inlet-pipe 26. The T- coupling 21 is connected to the T-coupling 15 through the medium of the branch pipe 30, and the T-coupling 27 is connected to the T- cou pling 17 through themedium of the branch pipe 31. The discharge-pipe for the pump is indicated by the reference character 32, and said pipe communicates with a T-coupling 33, having a three-way valve 3 1. The T-coupling 33 communicates with the T-coupling15 through the medium of the pipe members 35 36, and the T-coupling 37 has a three-way valve 38. The T-coupling 33 communicates with the T-coupling 17 through the medium of the pipe members 39 10, and the T-coup ling A1 has a three-way valve 12. The pipe system just described will permit of circulating the dye liquor or the washing medium in one direction that is to say, upwardly through either the receiving means A or receiving means B. When such circulation is had, it is evident that the valves are set in their proper position. To permit of circulating the dye liquor or washing medium in opposite directions-that is to say, downwardly through either the receiving meansA or B an auxiliary pipe system is provided for each of the receiving means A and B, and the auxiliary pipe system for the receiving means A consists of a supply-pipe 4C3, communicating with the interior of the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving means A near the top thereof, and said supply-pipe 43 is connected to a T-coupling 4 1, having a three-way valve 45, and said T-coupling 4:4: communicates with the T-coupling 37 through the medium of the sectional connecting-pipe 16. The auxiliary pipe system for the receiving means B consists of a supply-pipe 1 1, communicating with the interior of the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving "means B near the top thereof, and said supply-pipe A7 is connected to a Tcoup ling 48, having a three-way valve 19,and said T-coupling 4E8 communicates with the T-coupling 41 through the medium of the sectional connecting-pipe 4:9.

The auxiliary pipe systems just referred to not only permit the circulating of dye liquor or washing medium downwardly through either of the receiving means A and B, but also act as a means for supplying the dye liquor from a suitable source to the vat or receptacle 1 of each of the receiving means A and B, and for this purpose the auxiliary pipe system for the receiving means A has communicating with its T-coupling M a dye-liquorfeed pipe 50, and the auxiliary pipe system for the receiving means B has communicating with its T-coupling 18 a dye-liquor-feed pipe 51. Said dye-liquor-feed pipes 50 and 51 communicate with a source of dye-liquor supply, as Well as communicate with a source for the washing medium, suitable connections (not shown) being provided for this purpose.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The material being compressed within the casing 4: of the receiving means A and the compression-plate 7 retained in position in the receiving means A in the manner as hereinbefore set forth, the dyestuif is now run into the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving means A in such a quantity until it reaches the height of several inches above the plate 7. It is then brought to boil by the supply of steam to the pipe 12. The body of dye liquor required is of such quantity that it completely submerges the casing 4 within the receiving means A, so that when the liquor is drawn from the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving means A and forced through the material within the casing 4 of the receiving means A a sufiicient quantity of dye liquor will remain in the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving means A so as to still submerge the casing 1 of the receiving means A, or,in other words, the quantity of dye liquor is such that during the entire dyeing operation when the receiving means A is employed the casing 1 thereof containing the material Will be submerged. The various valves are then set so that the circulation of dye liquor through the receiving means A in the manner as hereinafter set forth will be obtained. Of course during the employment of the receiving means A the valves are so set that the portion of the pipe system C for the receiving means B will not communicate therewith. The pump 23 is then started, and the action of the pump will be such as to draw the dye liquor from the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving means A into the pipe 19, thence through the pipe 24 and the inlet pipe 26 into the pump, Where it is discharged therefrom by the pressure thereof through the discharge-pipe 32 into and through the branches 35 and 26, thence into the primary supply-pipe 13, thence into the receiving means A, up through the plate 6, the material within the casing 1, through the plate 7 and into the receptacle or vat 1,from which it is Withdrawn through the pipe 19, owing to the operation of the pump. The foregoing operation is continued for a few minutes, when the valves are reversed, so that the course of circulation may be changed, and in this particular the dye liquor is drawn from the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving means A into the pipe 13, up through the pipe 30 into the pipe 2 1, from there into the pump through the inletpipe 26. The'liquid is discharged from the pump through the discharge-pipe 32 into the pipe 35, thence into the sectional pipe connection 46, and theninto the vat or receptacle 1 of the receiving means A through the medium of the supply-pipe 13, and the liquor is withdrawn from the vat or receptacle 1 in the manner as just set forth. After the material has been dyed the dye liquor is withdrawn from the receiving means A and the material washed, if desired, and the circulation of the washing medium 'is the same as that of the circulation of the dye liquor. During the opretained inposition in the manner as hereinbefore set forth. The valves are then set so that the circulation of the dye liquor can be had through that portion'of the pipe system which is adapted for use in connection with the receiving means B, the circulation of the 'dye liquor, as well as the washing medium for the receiving means B, being the same as that for the receiving means A. During the operation of dyeing and washing the material within the receiving means B the treated material within the receiving means A is removed through the medium of the hoisting device and a new mass of non-treated material placed in the receiving means A to be treated after the dyeing and washing operations have been completed in the receiving means B. It is evident from the foregoing operation that the output of the treated material can be increased in a given length of timemore than if the machine employed was but a single and not a duplex one.

It will be evident, owing to the compression of the material to be dyed, that the same will form'a substantially solid mass and also give a certain amount of resistance to the pump. It also insures a more uniform dyeing, as each and every portion of the material oflers the same resistance to the dye liquor. If the material is placed in a loose condition within the casing 4 of either the receiving means A or B, the dye liquor will have a tendency to pass around the material and not directly through it, as would be the case when it is compressed, or, in other words, the loose placing of the material within the casing 4 will form passages through which the dye liquor will be forced, whereas if the material is compressed the same will be substantially a solid mass, so that, as above stated, a uniform dyeing is obtained, as each and every portion of the material offers the same resistance to the dye liquor, or, in other words, the dye liquor passes through the material in a uniform manner.

It is thought the many advantages of the duplex dyeing-machine as set forth in the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, can be readily understood, and it will furthermore be evident that changes, variations, and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes, vaiiations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Aduplex dyeing-machine comprising a pair of vats adapted to contain a body of dye liquor, a casing mounted within each of said tanks and adapted to contain the material to be treated, a removable perforated material-supporting plate for each of said casings, said plates supported within said casings at a point above.

the bottom of said vats, atrolley, a track therefor, a removable perforated compression-plate alternately operating in each of said casings, a hoisting device carried by the trolley and adapted to be connected to the said plates so as to remove them from the vats, means carried by each of the vats and projecting in said casing for retaining the compression-plate in position, a primary supply-pipe for each of the vats, said pipes extending at one end into the bottom of the vats, asuction-pipe for each of the vats, said suction pipes extending through the body of the vats, means for establishing communication between the primary supply-pipes and the suction-pipes, a pump communicating with the suction-pipes, means for establishing communication between the pum p and the primary supply-pipes, an auxiliary supply-pipe for each of the vats, said auxiliary supply-pipes communicating with the vat near the top thereof, means for establishing communication between the aux iliary supply-pipes and the pump, and a dyeliquor-feed pipe communicating with each of the auxiliary supply-pipes,a'nd means for shutting ofi the feed-pipes from the auxiliary supply-pipes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES A. WILLARD. Witnesses:

E. T. MACLEAN, E. W. ARNOLD. 

